President Uhuru Kenyatta for the first time spoke about the political tribulations of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi better known by his stage moniker Bobi Wine.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Zainab Badawi, the president said that Kenya had no business meddling in the affairs of other countries but called for restraint.
"We are a country that does not seek to interfere in other countries issues. We are a country that encourages democratic processes but also understand that different countries have different challenges. But what Kenya would like to see is where political competition is allowed without intimidation. And where there are differences, please, those differences should not result in violence," President Uhuru said.
His intervention comes in the wake of great public interest in what is happening in Uganda.
The opposition leader was arrested and assaulted by Uganda's law enforcement officers and arraigned in a court of law to face treason charges.
His arrest came after opposition supporters allegedly pelted President Museveni's convoy with stones in Arua.
Pressure has been mounting on the Museveni administration to unconditionally release the pop star-turned-politician.
Wine has projected himself in the public as an implacable critic of the policies of the Ugandan government, fuelling speculation that he may run for the presidency in 2021.
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